A visual representation of someone’s perception of his or her surroundings is called a mental map. This map is created subconsciously in our minds to help us understand the surrounding environment and how to interact with it. These maps are subjective, which means different people may have different perspectives of the same space.
You can even create a mental map of the spot you have never visited. This article assists you in creating a compelling mental map in no time by listing a few steps to follow. In addition, it presents a wonderful tool to make a mental map either from scratch or by using the built-in template. Let’s get into further details.
Part 1. 6 Easy Steps to Create a Mental Map
This section will familiarize you with the quick steps to craft an eye-catching mental map. Here is how you can generate your map.
Step 1:
Start by defining the central area you wish to represent on your map. Such as a city, a university, a neighborhood, an organization, or any other space.
Step 2:
Set the boundaries of the chosen area.
For example, if you want to create a mental map of the neighborhood, decide which markets and streets you want to include and what will stay outside of the map. Add keywords, key points, and relevant details.
Step 3:
Begin with one landmark or feature around which you want to orient the entire map. Consider the neighborhood scenario. Start by placing your house on the mental map. Doing this will help you pick something you are more familiar with.
Step 4:
Now, add further details and create connections. Since you have chosen the first element on the map, adding more stuff will become easy. As you move away from the first element, things will start to get complicated. For the neighborhood scenario, you can add nearby parks, ponds, shops, roads, and other similar things.
Step 5:
Keep on adding elements to your mental map until you touch the boundaries you have set earlier or you run out of elements. How much detail you want to add to the map is your choice.
Step 6:
Once you create a complete map, don’t forget to review everything you have added to it. If you are satisfied with everything, share the map with peers for further evaluation.
Part 2. How to Make a Mental Map on EdrawMind? Easy & Fun!
Are you searching for “how to create a mental map with a third-party dedicated tool?” Don’t know which software to choose and go ahead? EdrawMind will be worth using. This software comes with a range of visual elements, editable templates, layouts, clipart, and real-time collaboration features.
Here’s how you can craft a mental map using Wondershare EdrawMind.
Step 1: Download the desktop version of EdrawMind or access it online.
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Step 2: Click on the Create button and tap on Local MindMap.
By the way, EdrawMind provides multiple free examples of mental maps. You can just use one template without starting from zero. It's quick and fast. Click on Gallery and search for "Mental map". You will find a good example there.
Below is the basic layout of the map you will see on your screen.
Step 3: You can now customize the map the way you want and as many details as you need. In the image below, we have attached five subtopics to the central subject and added further details of each subtopic. You can further customize the map by changing the colors, fonts, and sizes, or adding pictures.
Step 4: Once your map is perfectly customized and meets your requirements, export it right away. To do this, click the Export option.
Here, you can choose from different file formats, such as graphics (PNG, JPEG, or JPG), PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SVG, HTML, TXT, and more. After selecting the desired format, hit the Export button.
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Final Words
A mental map visually presents someone's perspective on a space. Creating a mental map manually takes a lot of time, but using a dedicated map-making tool, like EdrawMind, not only saves you time but helps you make an unmatchable map within minutes.
EdrawMind offers full customization features and editable templates to make the whole diagramming process efficient and fun. The best part is that you can collaborate with your team members in real time. Moreover, this software offers a wide range of clipart, layouts, elements, and much more to make your map more professional.
If you need a trusted mind-mapping tool to make a wonderful mental map, try Wondershare EdrawMind.
FAQs
Q: Is there any difference between a mental map and a cognitive map?
A: Yes, they both are different. A mental map can have information collected from different resources and does not limit itself to the physical environment only. On the other hand, a cognitive map deals with the mental depiction.
Q: What is a mental map called in the professional environment?
A: Professionals and companies may call mental maps psychology concept maps or cognitive maps. At the same time, mental maps are also referred to as concept maps.
Q: Where is a mental map used?
A: This map is used to present your and others' perceptions of a specific space, region, area, or other entities. With this diagram, you can explore your assumptions, opinions, knowledge, and biases about places (it could be both foreign or familiar).
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